The SPORTTAPE Guide to Pre-Tapes

If you play or work in sport, you've probably heard the phrase 'pre-tapes' being used at some point. Perhaps your team's therapist has used it before. Whatever the case, there’s 3 main reasons that you might want to choose pre-tapes.

1. You or your player has a sensitivity to taping materials.
2. You or your player refuses to shave.
3. You’re taping a particularly sweaty area.

If that sounds about right then read on. This guide will help you decide what tape (or spray) to choose for each scenario, and how using pre-tapes can help save you money.

In short, pre-tapes are tapes and sprays that are designed to go underneath your main strapping application, either to protect the skin, or help the application on top stick better.

At SPORTTAPE, we have three pre-tape options that, depending on your specific usage, could be an ideal partner for some of your favourite and most used tapes. There's Fixation Tape, Underwrap and, one of our newest and most popular products, Pre-Tape Spray. 

Let's take a closer look at what they are, how they're used and what sort of difference they can make to your taping applications. 

Fixation Tape is strong, breathable and super sticky. Conforming easily to any area of the body with an adhesive designed to last, whatever your sport can throw at it. It’s quickly becoming an essential tape for every club therapist’s kitbag.

The acrylic adhesive is much kinder to the skin than Zinc Oxide glues too, making SPORTTAPE Fixation Tape perfect for sensitive areas of the body. Most commonly used around the shoulder, elbow, and knee. It's been specifically designed with the pitch-side therapist in mind, offering a more affordable dressing retention tape.

If sweat is part of the reason that you're here right now, this may be the answer.

TIP: 1 roll of Fixation Tape can save you 3 rolls of Zinc Oxide Tape, since you’ll only be applying once. Plus, one roll of Fix Tape will also last a long time if you only use it on those tricky areas.

1. Dressing Retention: We use hypoallergenic, non-woven synthetic fibres that are permeable to moisture, meaning the skin can breathe and air can circulate. Used commonly in sports and medical settings to secure dressings and pads.
2. Easy Peel: Our backing tape is cut down the centre, making it easy to remove and apply to dressings, gauze, pads or below Zinc Oxide Tape.
3. Strong and Breathable: Our fixation fabric tape is strong, breathable and super sticky. It conforms easily to any area of the body with an adhesive designed to last whatever your sport can throw at it.Its breathable fabric means that the skin can breathe properly and air can circulate through the tape. This makes the application less prone to peeling when you start sweating.
4. Adhesion: Our acrylic adhesive is kinder to the skin than Zinc Oxide glues, making Fixation Tape perfect for sensitive areas of the body and easy to remove. We’d always recommend a test patch if you have a known history of taping allergies.
5. 2 Sizes: The 10cm width is perfect for wider muscle groups and joints, and holding dressings and plasters in place. The 5cm width is great for patella malt racking and for use in combination with P tape (Zinc Oxide Tan).

Acting as a thin barrier, Underwrap pre-tape is a thin layer of foam that is wrapped around a joint or muscle, before overlaying it with strapping tapes, like Zinc Oxide. This has the advantage of protecting the skin, allowing for easy and pain-free removal.

It’s also highly effective against tape chafing and alternatively, can be used to secure cold packs and bandages in place during use. It’s made from a lightweight foam that is porous, water-repellent and really easy to use.

1. Protect Your Skin: Protection from the potential irritation of wearing adhesive tapes. Acting as a thin barrier, Underwrap is applied before overlaying it with strapping tape, meaning glue never touches the skin.
2. Adhesive Free: Perfect if you have sensitive skin, but still need to be taped. Our Underwrap is non-sticky yet lightly rubberised to touch. It prevents slipping on the skin, keeping bandages and tapes in place.
3. Lightweight: The lightweight polyurethane foam is featherlight on the skin yet strong enough to be applied under tension. The breathable design creates a comfortable barrier between your skin and tape.

Pre-Tape Spray works by adding an additional layer of glue to the skin, making it tackier for any tape above to stick to. The spray dramatically improves the adhesion of sports tapes in challenging areas.

How it works is, apply it to clean and dry skin. Shake the can well before use and then spray in a sweeping motion approximately 20cm from the skin. Wait 20-30 seconds for the adhesive to become tacky. Typically, for the best results, we'd recommend using it with a SPORTTAPE Kinesiology Tape, Zinc Oxide Tape, EAB or a Fixation Tape.

1. Spray: Spray with no clogging. Our aerosol spray means more control and less waste.
2. Wait: Enjoy the citrus aroma and wait 10-20 seconds for it to dry. It will be tacky to touch.
3. Tape: Apply your tape. Perfect for damp or wet conditions as well as body parts subject to heavy sweating.

Let’s be clear. For the best results, you should always stick tape directly to the skin. It’s how it sticks best. 

Underwrap is great for taping allergies and hair, but it also needs to be applied tightly and accurately so that it doesn’t slip. Fixation Tape needs to be cut with scissors, so takes a bit of pre-planning. However, it’s worth it not to have to re-strap a shoulder at half time! 

And Pre-Tape Spray is designed for everyone. You want to be certain your taping applications will last for as long as you need them to, and that's exactly why we designed our sprays.